Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-04
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION.
IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE BOARD
WITH REFERENCE TO PLUMBING.
The City Attorney Instructed to Prosecute
the Owners of the Central House Block
The Mayors Estimates for the
Coming Year-The Jail Site.


munication was received from Mayor
Woodbury. stating that he had appointed
w. d. Stone a policeman and the appoint.
meDt was confirmed on motion of Alder
man Kelly
The report of the city treasurer was then
read and accepted on motion of Alderman
Englesby. a discussion arose over the
publication in connection with his report
of the report of the city treasurer made to
the Board in June, 1884, giving detailed
statement of the United States deposit
fund. Alderman Engleshy thought that
II was needless to reprint the statement
and he moved that ii be laid on the table
The motion was lost and on motion of
Alderman PIERCE the report was ordered
to be published i'll connection with the
treasurer's report. The mayors warrant
was approved for the payment to Peter
+. Pease, city agent, four freight bills for
liquor amounting to SHOP.
THE PLUMBING oRDINANCE.
President Booth then read communi-
cation from Health Officer Linsley in re
latiOn to the plumbing question, as fol.
lows:
To the Honorable Board NJ aldermen.
Gentlemen: Complaints having been made
to IN last August, of the unsanitary condi-
ton OF the plumbing in Central House block
ana upon investigation ample cause for said
Complaints being found, notified one of the
owners that certain changes in the plumbing
were necessary IN order to nave the block n
proper sanitary cOnd tion. No notice
whatever beng taken of this communica-
ton, notified the other owner. No atten-
ton being paid to this second communica-
ton. Ind served on the propuetors Decem.
per 10, a legal notice, allowing two t2) weeks
IN which to do the necessary work. A few
days after the expiration OF the time allowed
in the order. no action having been taken to
fnlhll its requirements, asked the city attor-
ney to commence legal proceedings to compel
compliance WITH the specifications of the
order As he thc city attorney was busy at
the time, he informed me that he would at
tend to the matter after the adjournment of
the Supreme Court, at that time just com
mencing its session. After the adjournment
OF Sald court, and after numerous con et-
ences with Mr. Burnap, l was tod by him
That | had no jurisdiction in the matter, ana
consequently no tcnubc ground tor Il prose-
cuton. a few days later being niined to
the house by illness, | wrote him asking that
lie give me the exact status OF the matter.
Here follows copy of his reply which has
already been published.
In order to see what powers the health Off
Ger possessed, had previously given the fol-
lowing Hypothetical case to the city att Orncy,
and asked his opinion in regard to it. the
case in question was us follows: If every
guest stopping at the Van Ness House
was taken sick soon after his arrival at
said house, and the cause of such sickness was
acknow lodged by all to be some defect in the
plumbing OF said build ng; i'll case of a re-
fusal on the part of the proprietor to remedy
such defect, would the health officer have the
necessary authority. under the existing ordi-
nance to abate such nuisance? His answer
was n the negative.
His honor, the mayor in his veto message
OF the proposed plumbing ordinance" says:
81 believe the ordinance would be unneccs-
sary except in isolated cases, and in those
cases the health officer has ample powers
under the law to protect the public health
AS the subject is OF vital Importance to our
city from sanitary point of view, and as the
powers OF the health officer appear to be en-
tirely inadequate, except in cases of actual
disease ! would respectfully recommend that
your III nOrable Board take such action as is
necessary to protect the pu lie health from
the dangers of detective drainage.
10 ii. IINsIEY, Health Officer
Alderman Sutton said there was con
siderable doubt among good lawyers rs to
the correctness of the city attorneys Opin-
ion and he thought the health officer mad
authority to abate nuisance in any house
where one should appear.
Alderman PIERCE read portions O. the
city charter referring to the duties of the
health officer, and he said he thought the
health officer could order nuisances
abated. If the order was not obeyed he
could have the nuisance abated and col
lect the expense of the same from the
property holder.
President Booth thought the report
could properly be referred to the health
committee.
DR.. Linsley said he had seen the mem
that something ought to be done. He was
in favor of testing the matter in court.
Alderman Englesby thought the Board
could instruct the city attorney to bring
a prosecution and test the powers of the
health officer, and he moved that the city
attorney be Instructed to bring a prosecu
ton under the order The motion was
passed, the vote standing five to four.
THE JAIL SITE.
The following communication was re-
ceived from the Jail commissioners and
on motion of Alderman Englesby it was
referred to the street committee
To the Board Of 4 ldcrmen Of the CttU Of
Burlington.
The commissioners authorized by the
Legislature to build a Jail for Chittenden
county, have had their attention called to
the city market lot as a suitable location
for the Jail. The commissioners intend to
erect a Jail with all the modern improve
ment, and with some pretensiOns to archi-
tectural taste, but the means at their com
mand will not enable them TO do this, and
pay more than nominal consideration
for the site. In view OF this fact and of
the wish many citizens of Burlington have
expressed to us that the jail may be To-
Gated on the city market lot, we respect
fully apply to your board for conve vance
to the county OF Chittenden for a nominal
consideration of a certain portion of said
market lot, 60 feet front on Main street
and 100 feet deep, for the purpose of erect
ing and maintaining the county Jail and
and outbuildings Herewith connected,
thereon.
A. j. STEVENS, / Co,,,,,issioro,s
n, b. PROCTOR, Oo'iiiiiiSs'oiie's'
THE MAYORS ESTIMATES.
communication from the mayor was
then read giving his estimates for the
ensuing year as follows
10 the HOnrdble Board Of Aldermen:
Gentlemen-l herewith present statement
showing the financial condition of the CITY Mt
the close of bu 'iness Dec. 81, 1885, with an es-
innate of the probable expenses for the cur
rent year
Net bonded debt Dec. 81, 1885 $3.50 9s
Net bonded debt Dec. 81, 1886 1880
Decrease during 1885 e.. ...... sl54:W
Assets Dec. 81.
Cash on hand ....... -......... sl379.37
Uncolected taxes, 1884 ...... l06.l1
Uncolected taxes, lsS6....... $500
Uucoected sewer assess